美国最大的电网运营商PJM Interconnection宣布，将在电力短缺期间对50兆瓦及以上的数据中心实施临时断电，以防止停电[1]。这一政策将从2027年6月起正式实施[1]。
PJM Interconnection覆盖从弗吉尼亚州到伊利诺州的广大区域，为6700万客户供电[1]。该决策源于数据中心电力需求的快速增长与发电容量拍卖表现不佳的双重压力[1]。根据预测，PJM地区数据中心的电力使用量预计到2035年将是当前水平的四倍[1]。过去一年内，该地区批发电价几乎翻倍，独立市场监测机构将这一增长的主要原因归咎于数据中心[1]。
在需求响应程序中，用户通常会提前30分钟到几天获得断电通知[1]。联邦法规允许柴油发电机每年用于需求响应事件最多50小时，包括紧急情况和维护最多100小时[1]。PJM计划对受影响的用户进行补偿[1]。
PJM Interconnection, the largest electricity grid operator in the United States, has announced plans to implement temporary power cuts for data centers of 50 megawatts or larger during periods of power shortage to prevent widespread blackouts [1]. The policy will take effect starting in June 2027 and will apply across PJM's service territory, which spans from Virginia to Illinois and serves approximately 67 million customers [1].
The decision comes amid surging electricity demand from data centers and disappointing results from recent power generation capacity auctions [1]. Data center power consumption in the PJM region is projected to quadruple by 2035 compared to current levels [1]. Over the past year, wholesale electricity prices in the region have nearly doubled, with an independent market monitor attributing the primary cause to data center growth [1]. Under the demand response program, affected users will typically receive notification 30 minutes to several days before a temporary shutdown occurs [1].
Federal regulations currently permit diesel generators to operate for demand response events for a maximum of 50 hours annually, with an additional limit of up to 100 hours for emergency situations and maintenance [1]. Affected data centers and other large users will receive compensation for their participation in the program [1].